Page 119 of Up In Flames
I chuckle and then wince again.
Damn him.
“Don’t make me laugh,” I whine. In truth, it hurts, but it also feels kind of good.
“Let’s move in together,” Knox says, totally catching me off guard. I try to turn my head, but I don’t make it far.
“Damn it, Knox. Stop making me want to look at you!”
He laughs, and I’m able to give him a grin.
“I mean it, Taylor. Let’s move in together. A new house with new memories for both of us. It can be closer to the airport. Phoenix lives on that side of town. It would be cool to be closer to him.” He gains excitement the more he talks, and I love every word coming from his lips. “I love you,” he says again. “I want to keep you, cherish you, support you, and have all the gay sex with you.”
“Goddammit, Knox,” I say, unable to stop the laughter. It makes my fucking chest feel like it’s going to split open, but I can’t stop.
Or maybe that’s my heart overflowing with joy, love, and happiness.
Getting my laughter under control, I tell him, “It can just be calledsex,you know.It doesn’t have to begaysex. You and your labels. Have you learned nothing?”
“Oh, I’ve learned plenty. In fact, as soon as you can blink without needing an I.V. of morphine, I’d be happy to show you,” he says suggestively.
We both know it’s going to be a while, but knowing Knox is going to be with me through it all makes me ready to claw my way to recovery.
Chapter 43
Knox
Taylor got out of the hospital the day before Thanksgiving. We spent the holiday at his parents’ house with all his siblings, and the healing that happened around his mother’s dining room table filled me in a way I’ve never experienced.
Christmas is now upon us, and here we are again.
When we arrive, everyone is just as welcoming of me as they are of Taylor as I push his wheelchair up the sidewalk. He hates the damn thing and begs me just to carry him everywhere—which I’d happily do—except his ribs aren’t fully healed yet and movement still causes him pain since we’re only five weeks out from his accident.
Damon comes out of the house before I even have a chance to ring the doorbell.
“Hey guys! Merry Christmas!” he says, squatting down to grab the front legs of the wheelchair. It’s still weird seeing Taylor’s twin, but I’ve spent enough time around them both that they no longer look so much alike to me anymore.
I lift the back wheels, and we carefully set Taylor down inside the hallway.
“This is fucking humiliating,” Taylor grumbles for the millionth time. Damon and I share a smile and respond the same way any of us do when Tay complains.
“At least you’re alive.”
“Bird!” Livvy shouts, coming down the hall. “I have two job interviews lined up already!” she exclaims.
“Congrats, Liv! I want to hear all about them,” Taylor says, giving his sister a one-armed hug.
“Can you help me choose my outfit? Everyone else in this family has terrible fashion sense.”
Tay chuckles and says, “Of course I will,” right as Damon cries, “Terrible fashion sense? This is a tailored suit!”
“Yeah, but you’realwayswearing a suit. That’s not good fashion sense; that’s predictable and boring.”
And so it goes with the rest of the family as we mingle, eat, and unwrap presents. After dinner, Francesca and Livvy are playing with Francesca’s daughter downstairs in the basement while Bill and Rebecca Landry are still talking with Francesca’s husband, Rex, and Ashton at the table. I’ve moved to the living room with Taylor to help him get settled on the couch.
Damon comes with us and I can tell something is on his mind besides Livvy not liking his wardrobe choices.
“I, uh, I’m gonna go start cleaning up,” I say, throwing a thumb over my shoulder, discreetly trying to give them some time alone.
